When amnesty makes sense

Charles Krauthammer takes a clear-eyed look at the issue of amnesty for Sunni insurgents. Krauthammer is spot-on — Sunni elements fighting against the coalition forces should receive amnesty in exchange for giving up their fight, if that’s what the elected government of Iraq decides will best promote national reconciliation and reduce the bloodshed. The amnesty would not extend to al-Qaeda which, by definition, cannot be part of any national reconciliation.

Krauthammer is also on the mark when he notes the hypocrisy of certain Democrats. On the one hand, they vote for troop withdrawal, which would likely hand victory to those who have been attacking American troops. On the other hand, they try to score political points against President Bush by attacking an approach that would merely grant these forces amnesty in exchange for capitulation.